“I will use whatever power this office holds to engage my fellow citizens…in an effort aimed at preventing more tragedies like this.”

“Our first task.”

We can’t tolerate this anymore. These tragedies must end, and to end them, we must change. We will be told that the causes of such violence are complex, and it is true. No single law, no set of laws can eliminate evil from the world or prevent every senseless act of violence in our society. But that can’t be an excuse for inaction. Surely we can do better than this.”

“Because what choice do we have? We can’t accept events like this as routine. Are we really prepared to say we’re powerless in the face of such carnage? That the politics are too hard? Are we prepared to say that such violence visited upon our children year after year after year is somehow the price of our freedom?”

Photo of Obama with some Newtown, CT children before his speech tonight (via Twitter user @krupali)